The food: from the charcuterie, through the ham and the paella to the fantastic scallops at the prize giving(disclaimer: see note on saucisse/frites below) and the bar... and the biscuits at sign-off... and the free coffee in the morning...

Bottom 5:

I ate (far) too many saucisse et frites...

I hadn't sailed for 2 years and had misplaced the "downwind in light airs" skills required for Sunday

The massive hole in the breeze that we found a few times (better than being becalmed in Hobart as the rest of the fleet planed upwind on the opposite side of the course though...)

Bit of a trek from our chosen accomodation

Leaving after 5 days...

#6... the ongoing concern that there might be some camembert hidden in my sailing kit, somewhere...

Thanks to:

Seb et Sophie (for organising it all)Haysey (for the boat)Barnsie (for the sails)Toby (for doing all the hard stuff in the front)

AnywayTop 5- 1. - what he said. The lot of it.2. getting top-10 finishes, whether by survival (Race 1!) or by going to the right side of the course when many that should know better went badly, badly wrong. Luck a bit more than judgement, perhaps3. Finishing every race. We've got a bit of a reputation for not doing this.4. the beach was gorgeous5. (sorry Wattsy) really rather positive to see a French boat win. Looking forward to seeing how they stack up against a Worlds fleet. What happens to the "ashes" if neither an Aussie or a British boat wins?

Bottom 5-1. vomit2. the Al Bomb destroying the 08 main on the way in on Saturday, which could have given us a little more much needed upwind oomph on the Sunday and early Monday (downwind was fine)3. the tide. Not strong on the racecourse, but bloody hell that goes out a long way4. the changing rooms. Could do with segregation from the kiddies if they're going to be like that, and Barnsie doesn't really understand how to operate doors.5. an hour to get out the terminal at Portsmouth as our little ferry got in just behind the massive one Watts/Sherrat/Barsley-Dale/Davis were on and a second big one from le Havre...

GoodWine ++ with every meal!Brill value for E160 and having a North 08 mainEasy launch/recovery compared with Beer and PorthpeanSharing a car with Tony, da Chin, Gi and Charlie GameboyGood banter with the Leakies and those nice french fella's

Not so good.Swimming in R5 20 m's from the line due to my dodgy capsizeWorking out where to go 1st two races on SundayLetting Walter/JB sail through our lee Sunday PMMy port tack start that went a little wrong necessitating sailing behind the whole fleet!Leading for 1.5 rounds of the last race and Gi falling onto the mast doing a very good impression of a near dead person

Last edited by crispin on Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top 5Great Club + HelpersGood ValueWell Kitted out workshopLots of SpaceImpressive french ability to grow grass on concrete

Worst 5My VomitAl's vomitWorkshop didn't contain a drill bit that drills perfect rectanglesTent blowing down because pegs were bent and barely in the ground, due to aforementioned french ability to grow grass on concreteHaving to stop sailing halfway through the first race on the last day when we were going better than ever.

Top 5 1. The friendliness and helpfulness of all the French2. Some great sailing, even if we were not always upright.3. Free beer4. Reinventing classic French games5. Not having to clear up Al sick when he through up in the hedge.

Bottem 51. Al Throwing up in his room and having to clear it up at 1 am2. Throwing up in sink and having to clear it up at 1 am3. Throwing up on the decking and having to clear it up at 1 am4. Throwing up on the grass out side the caravan and seeing the slugs eating it the next morning.5. The Al Bomb destroying the 08 main on the way in on Saturday after the race, when we were both too knackered to carry on

Top 51. Winning the first race2. The friendly club and the friendly french!3. Winning the first race4. Gi going to get the fresh croissants every morning before I woke up!5. Winning the first race

Worse 51. not getting a hooting in the first race2. being over the line in the first race3. The PRO seeing us go back at the start and seeing us not go back far enough.4. Not letting us know we hadn't gone back far enough5. Being DSQ from the first race!!!